[G3rn0ti]

> One of these three parties, the FDP, is currently losing popularity because they essentially promised that fancy technology will solve all our problems

No. They are losing support as their voter base is more right leaning but currently support a center left government. Tactically, that’s a tricky situation to be in.

And, no, they didn’t promise „fancy technology“ to solve all problems. They actively support monetary and regulatory climate change mitigations. However, as Germany’s only classical liberal party they want the government to take a mostly neutral stance on _how_ we mitigate climate change meaning technology decisions should be done by the private sector. That’s why they are actually in favor of carbon taxation and emissions trading (both of which happen to be already a reality for years in Germany) but don’t want the government to prohibit combustion engines.

While it is unclear what future role such engines play in private transport, there might be many niches where they are necessary: For generators, lawn mowers (because you don’t want to have a cable dangling next to rotating knives), agricultural machines and possibly trucks.

And that’s why I do think it is actually a reasonable point of view.

[lettergram]

Fun thought exercise — do you want an electric lawnmower? Most people don’t for the same reason they don’t want an electric chainsaw, trimmer, etc.

They work well in small yards (very small), but Beyond that you’re talking multiple sessions of work as it charges.

Imo that’s the hurdle for green tech. Great for public transit which is consistent, but difficult for large land which is less developed. You want to leave both options available. Imo id use electric if I could, but I can’t where I’m at

[atchoo]

Electric mowers are probably more common than petrol in the UK.

They aren't battery powered but corded which makes them light and cheap. Not many people have lawns longer than 40m or so or whatever the extension cables max out as.

https://www.flymo.com/uk/products/lawn-mowers/

[flowerbreeze]

Also, I think chargers are still an issue. One of my favourite tools is a Bosch screwdriver and the best feature it has is USB charging port. It's perhaps a bit special case as it doesn't require a huge battery nor great voltage, but it certainly makes it easier not to lose my mind when looking for yet another charger that will only charge that one special battery the drill came with.

[rstuart4133]

I use a corded electric mower, for the same reasons another poster gave: they are very light, inexpensive compared to a ICE mower, and just go. They are fine for a 1000m2 block.

But if you have something bigger, then this works:

    https://egopowerplus.com.au/zero-turn-riding-mower-zt4204e-l/

I also have a corded air blower, battery driven weed trimmer, and battery chain saw. Granted, the battery versions are expensive and as heavy as their ICE counterparts. But they are quieter, and more reliable. If battery technology continues to improve (especially if LiS gets out of the lab), I'd say the end is neigh for small ICE engines.

[schiffern]

>Beyond that you’re talking multiple sessions of work as it charges

I actually prefer this. It forces me to take breaks, which prevents me from over-working myself when left to my own devices.

It also neatly defuses any toxic family expectations about not taking any breaks until the job is done. "Can't. Battery died." :)

This works great if you can do a lawn in 2-4 sessions. I agree you need something different for even larger lawns, but at that scale you're already looking at a lawn tractor or zero-turn (which can also be electrified).

[pandaman]

You can get power tools with replaceable batteries. I do prefer electric tools because they don't need as much maintenance as a combustion engine and weight less but batteries are too expensive for this to be feasible for professional use indeed.

[mqus]

You probably have misunderstood the law. It was supposed to ban fossil fuel cars and vans only. No trucks, buses, planes, diesel trains, ships or even lawnmowers. You can still use (and will probably have no choice but to use) fossil fuels or expensive e-fuels. (although i think buses and trains might already have laws about this).

The liberals wanted an exception for cars, where even most of the carmakers have pledged not to sell ICE cars. It's just nonsense.

[G3rn0ti]

> It was supposed to ban fossil fuel cars and vans only

You are right, of course. I knew that but my wording was a bit misleading:

>> but don’t want the government to prohibit combustion engines

That does not change the argument, however: The government should take a neutral stance, even when the private sector believes electric cars are the way to go.

> The liberals wanted an exception for cars, where even most of the carmakers have pledged not to sell ICE cars. It's just nonsense.

From another perspective prohibition of ICE cars is even more silly when most car makers actually don't want to build them anymore -- because this act then becomes merely a symbolic gesture and does not have any impact on the environment anyway. So another reason not to hate the FDP for its move.

[greedo]

Electric powered lawn mowers have been around since the early 1980s, largely replaced today by battery powered mowers.

[danaris]

…have you never seen a battery-powered lawnmower?

There are other options than “fossil fuels” and “dangerous electric cords”.